An estimated 91% of hospital workers report receiving a flu vaccine for the 2015-16 flu season, compared with 80% of ambulatory care workers and 69% of long-term care workers, according to a survey released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coverage for health care workers in all settings was 79%, up from 77% in 2014-15. Coverage was 97% among workers in hospitals requiring vaccination, compared with 82% in those that did not require but offered free on-site vaccination to employees for more than one day. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends annual flu vaccination for all health care personnel to reduce flu-related illness and mortality in health care settings. To protect the lives and welfare of patients and hospital employees, the AHA supports mandatory patient safety policies that require either flu vaccination or wearing a mask in the presence of patients across health care settings during flu season.

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The Utah measles outbreak has increased to 607 cases, the state’s Department of Health and Human Services reported April 24. Nationwide, there have been 1,792…
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The administration Apri 23 reached a most-favored-nation drug pricing agreement with Regeneron, the maker of the popular cholesterol medicine Praluent. This is…
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The Food and Drug Administration today announced it is accelerating regulatory action on a new class of psychedelic-based therapies, following an April 18…
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The AHA April 24 urged the Sequoia Project to delay implementation of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement Individual Access Services Exchange…
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A joint advisory released April 23 from U.S. and international cybersecurity agencies, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, FBI,…
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Public
This week, more than 1,000 hospital and health system leaders came to Washington, D.C., united by a shared responsibility: to ensure every community has access…